Pad for wind instrument keys



June 18; 1940. c. MICHALEK 2,204,766

PAD FOR WIND INSTRUMENT KEYS Filed NOV. 15, 1937 way/Z611 Cali W56 aleio Patented June 18, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to pads for wind instrument keys and, to a method of installing said pads in the keys.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a pad which, when installed in an instrument key, will. cooperate much more accurately than heretofore with the socket which it normally closes.

.Afurther object of the invention is to provide an improved pad which, when installed, requires no compressive force and no key movement after it contacts the socket, in order to complete the closure of the socket.

Other objects, advantages, and capabilities of the invention will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary section through a saxophone socket and associated key, the key being in open position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the key closed. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a pad. embodying my invention, and

Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof. Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral IE designates portions of a horn of a saxodrical f ormation.

The key I3 is normally biased by means (not shown) away from the socket II. It may suitably be provided with an abutment ll of felt or other suitable deadening material which is adapted to engage a stop member 18, as shown in Fig. 1. The instrument, of course, comprises manual means (not shown) whereby the key may be moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which the socket H is closed by the key. This closure is normally effected by means of a pad l9 which is mounted within the flanged disc I5, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

These pads are normally made of a piece of felt 20 to which is secured a cover 2| of kidskin or other soft sealing material. The cover 2! is suitably in the form of a disc of such leather or material, the edges of which are bent around the periphery of the disc of felt 20, the marginal portion of the disc of leather 2! being located on the back of the disc 25 and around the edge thereof. The elements Eli and El are suitably secured together by stitching 22 or by other suitable means.

In the pads heretofore used both the elements 20 and iii were of soft material and, consequently, they were to some extent irregular in shape. When the player closed the key, part of the pad would strike the socket ll first and then the players finger would have to move the key still further to complete the closure of the socket ll. According to the present invention I permanently form the pad is so that it conforms precisely with the rim of the socket l l. Consequently, the socket II is closed completely around its whole periphery immediately any contact is made between the pad l9 and the socket H. To obtain this instantaneous closing I form the pad l9 into the exact shape of the socket H by direct contact with the socket at a time when the pad I9 is formable. I maintain this contact until the pad I9 solidifies and becomes set.

It will be understood that I may make the pad IQ of any suitable formable material which is capable of drying or cooling into a relatively rigid state. I prefer, however, to proceed in the following manner. I take a pad l9 comprising a piece of felt 20 and a disc 2! of kidskin, for example. I impregnate the felt 20 with shellac. I have found three pound cut shellac to be suitable; that is, shellac formed from one gallon of alcohol and three pounds of flaked shellac. The felt base 20 is preferably impregnated before the kidskin disc 2! is applied to it, although the impregnation of the base may be done after the pad has been assembled. It is preferred to allow the impregnant to dry out.

To install the pad I heat the dried shellacked pad to a temperature of 200 degrees F., to force it into the flange of the disc l which is also heated, and while it is still hot I firmly close the key I S into the position shown in Fig. 2. The contacting portions of the pad and disc are smeared with shellac solution or other suitable adhesive. I maintain the key closed until the pad I9 or, rather, the shellac with which the felt is impregnated, has become firm.

It will be understood that the impregnation of the base may be done at the time the pad is installed, the key being held closed until the impregnant has dried out and the pad has solidified in contact with its socket.

The pad shown in Fig. 3 is somewhat exaggerfill ated in order to illustrate the advantages of the invention. Thus, this pad is somewhat thinner on the right-hand side. Consequently, the left-hand side, according to the prior art, would first make contact with the socket I I. Therefore, the player would have to apply pressure in order to deform the left-hand side of the pad in order that the right-hand side of the pad could seat on the socket. According to the present invention, when the disc 26 of felt impregnated with shellac and in a formable condition, is maintained in normal contact with the socket II, the felt is distorted by the socket in the manner shown in Fig. That is, the socket I l enters more deeply into the high spots of the pad and the final result is that a ring formation 23 is made all around the pad i9, which formation corresponds exactly to the shape of the socket H. Since the key I3 is held closed until the shellac in the felt 20 becomes solid, it will be obvious that this relation between the pad and the socket will be preserved indefinitely. Owing to the perfect closure which I am able to obtain with my improved pad, the player can obtain quicker fingering and more instantaneous response to his actuation of the keys.

While I have described the invention in connection with a saxophone, it will be understood that the invention may be applied to any form of wind instrument employing keys of this general type. For example, it may be used also on wind instruments such as the oboe, clarinet, flute, bassoon, and piccolo, and other instruments.

Having thus described my invention I declare that what I claim is:

1. A pad for a musical instrument key comprising a base of fibrous material, a soft thin sealing membrane on the outer side thereof, and an impregnant extending throughout the whole mass of said base normally maintaining said base as an integral unit, said impregna-nt being capable of being softened temporarily by moderate heating.

2. A pad for a musical instrument key comprising a base of felt, a piece of kidskin on one side thereof, and shellac impregnating said felt throughout the whole mass of the felt and normally maintaining said base as a rigid integral unit.

3. In combination, a musical instrument having a socket, a key adapted to cooperate therewith, a pad on said key comprising a base of fibrous material, a soft thin sealing membrane on the outside thereof, said base being deformed so that the pad cooperates precisely with said socket, and an impregnant extending through the whole mass of said base constituting the base as a rigid unit and maintaining said base rigidly in such deformed condition.

4. In combination, a musical instrument having a socket, a key adapted to cooperate therewith, a pad on said key comprising a base of felt, a piece of kidskin on the outside thereof, said base being deformed so that the pad cooperates precisely with said socket, and shellac impregnating said base throughout the whole mass of the base and maintaining the base as a rigid integral unit in such deformed condition.

CARL MICHALEK. 

